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Wow thank u guys VERY much for replying!! I'm very thankful! Guys I can honestly tell u I have absolutely no idea how to take the temp on these.. Crazy thing is that I can't even take the side panel off without tearing up the bin foam?? Yes the fan comes on at least 3x. Also I noticed the evap doesn't even feel warm during harvest. I'm still thinking its the HGV not opening.. I do know it worked fine for one week and slowly declined to 3.5 mins or longer and now hardly the ice doesn't even try to come of the evap??

Actually taking temperatures on each side of the valve will not tell you for sure if it is restricted. The evap is so cold it takes the heat very quickly and a Temperature difference will not give you good information i have found.

So are you saying that a restriction in the valve would not create a pressure drop ?

Def safety code 2. I think tomm I'm Gna take the Dremel to the side panel so I can get to the HGV and see if it gets hot during harvest. I hate to cut open the panel but its better than tearing up the whole darn foam

A dremel?...... dude.
What are you going to do if you find a bad hot gas valve (compressor,evaporator plate) anyway? Download some new ones and update your firmware?!!
This is not a simple fix for someone who can't get to the valve with out a dremel.
I stopped carrying HP-81 like ten years ago. I highly doubt there is "80%" nickel left on this plate unless it was in storage for an extended period of time.